Getting a dog in retirement

Have written to the Dog's Trust with the idea- let's see what they do about it.

I wanted a dog so much when I retired. We adopted one to start with and it was a total disaster. The dog wasn't house trained and it kept barking at us. We contacted the rescue centre for advice and only then found out that we were the fourth home it had been sent to. The poor thing was a lovely dog but it wasn't right for us. It needed someone much more experienced. I was really upset when it had to go back.

I think it's as well to remember that every dog that needs rehoming has history and unless you're experienced you might not be able to manage its needs.

We got a puppy after that and she's been fantastic. My advice would be to get a puppy and use a crate to train it. Having a dog is just the best thing in the world for me. She's company and I have to go out with her every day. I'd be totally lost without a dog.

Having recently acquired a cocker spaniel puppy from a reputable breeder, I would like to reiterate what most of the other posters have said. I was always a cat person, but husband had dogs all his life. I was loathe to get a dog because of the commitment (our cats were very independent).

As people have said, our pup has totally changed our retired life. Very tied as we can't leave her alone for more than about an hour. No holidays although we have just found a very good dog minder who looked after her for a few days. No popping out for a spontaneous meal out. And dogs are not for the house proud, especially in the winter. Think mud bespattered floors, walls, shower.

BUT she has brought such joy and I love her to bits. Getting up early to let her out has stopped me from the lazy lying in and wasting half a morning in bed. Taking her out for walks has given us fresh air (sometime too much when it is stormy) and exercise.

And the dog walkers' social life is amazing. All dog walkers stop to chat. I have got to know so many people in our village I have never spoken to before.

And our DCs love her. And those eyes!

Best choice we made to get a dog now that we have retired. We thought long and hard about whether or not it would be right for us as my husband has severe mobility problems and is more or less housebound so all the responsibilities for care would be down to me but we have had a dog before, not since 2000, so knew what we were letting ourselves in for. However we did discuss this with our close and extended family to see if they would be willing to help if needed. Without exception they all said 'go for it we will help' and they have.

A couple of days before we were due to collect our puppy my younger sister died very suddenly. I didn't know whether or not I could cope with a puppy at such a devastating time but decided to go ahead and it was the best thing I could have done. This little bundle has brought great comfort to all the family not just me. Yes they are a tie, they want you to get up when you want to lie in, they bring mud into the house and tear up the garden but when my dog looks up at me with unconditional love all that goes out of the window.

He has given a new lease of life to this household and instinctively knew the limitations of my husband's mobility and that he has to play with him in a different way. As I type he is having his morning cuddle on his lap.

When, as they all can be, my puppy is being a little devil I can hear my sister laughing and saying 'What has my sister let herself in for!!' but I know she would have loved him as we all do.

What a lovely post shabby - I fully understand the joy a new dog can bring to a home.

Just a word of warning to the OP. Choose your breed with care, especially if you are after a puppy. Different breeds, different sizes, different temperaments, different exercise needs and grooming. My dog, a Lhasa Apso doesn't shed, so almost no extra vacuuming needed, but he does need to be professionally trimmed every 6-8 weeks, as an example.

But I'd never be without a dog.

Let us know Granjura if you get a response to your enquiry? I'd be very interested .

I've come to the conclusion that you are all far lovelier to your dogs than me .

Sam keeps his legs crossed till DH gets up each morning ( between 7-9) no getting up to Sams clock . Although If desperate he would bark and wake us .

We often leave him for a few hours to go shopping . He usually ends up taking himself back to his crate with his mate marmite and getting a snooze.

I would say that we started training him to be left from 8 weeks though and I could leave him all day If I had to although I don't obviously .

We love him endlessly but he did have to fit into our lives rather than us alter our life for him .

Jude what a lovely puppy. I'm getting all puppy broody ??

Yes, our dog fits in with our lives, not the other way around. As I'm retired I'm with her a lot obviously, but I think nothing of leaving her to her own devices. We sometimes take her to the pub with us but mostly she stays behind. We just say to her "you're not coming" and her head goes down and she slinks to her basket. It's all done to make us feel guilty and it works. She's usually still in her basket when we get back, but is soon out and greeting us with delirious delight. Oh how lovely it is to have a dog, so pleased to see you!

Puppies are just the most gorgeous little things, closely followed by foals. I'd love a puppy again sometime soon.

* Pollyparrot* are our dogs related ????

We say the same thing to Sam and he does the big eyes, hard done by look before getting in his basket!!

What does make me laugh is that I wanted him, I chose him , I take care of him but he ADORES DH. When we come home I unlock the door and walk in and Sam walks straight past me to get to 'himself' who is greeted like he's been gone for years. I'm very much an afterthought

Couldn't live without dogs. We have one active Jack Russell now,, we had two but our darling 17 year old died and I miss him every day. JRs are wonderful dogs. Can recommend them but please try and get a rescue one, don't pay hundreds to a breeder. There are so many dogs who need homes.

Sorry to put a negative slant on this. This is GN but the presence of children has hardly been mentioned. Please remember that babies and young children should never be left alone with a dog, no matter how well trained, gentle and biddable you think your pet is. That might seem obvious but it's easy to think someone else is attending to it and to let your vigilance slip. It's doubly vital with a rescue dog whose history you may not know. I'd advise that children have absolutely no food away from the table if your dog is interested in human food (and what dog isn't?) Don't let children wander about with food in their hand.
Young children need to be trained how to treat a dog. Their patting and stroking can be enthusiastic and they often have toys in their hands!
I have a much loved, 4 year old Springer Spaniel and I worry about what could happen to my little grandson. As it happens, we live a long way from my daughter so my visits don't usually include my dog. They haven't visited here since the lad's been on his feet but they will come, inevitably. It's a worry. I love my dog but I love my grandson more.

I totally agree that children need training just as much as dogs Lizzy .

We actually do let our little ones wander round with food but we trained our little dog that food in the hand unless offered in a certain way is just not his. As a cavalier he thinks with his tummy so this was a big skill for him to learn.

If it's on the floor it's fair game but that's where training the little ones came in. They know the rules too.

They love to feed Sam and he has a plethora of tricks which he willingly performs for treats. So they know how to feed him properly too. And we always use 'gentle hands' .

It's a pleasure to see them together. But I agree, we never leave them alone together.

One of the reasons for us taking early retirement was so we could have dogs. We got a springer spaniel puppy from a lovely breeder, she really cares about her dogs and keeps in touch with everyone who has one of her pups. We took him to training school from about 12 weeks old and kept it up. 2 years later we got a cocker spaniel pup, who is a real bundle of energy. She also went to training. It forces us to be up and out at around 7.30 each morning, and we take them for longer walks in e afternoon. If nothing else, it keeps us fit, but we have too met some really nice people when dog walking. They are a tie but we have found a lovely kennels nearby where they now go of we are away. Yes they involve a cost but so does everything. Despite what we say about them, we wouldn't be without them.

I wanted a Westie when I retired . My husband didn't want any dog . He finally gave in and now that little dog is the love of our lives and he who never wanted a dog even buys her a birthday cake ?

I have a very beautiful little dog, see my profile, and as her t-shirt says, she is my favourite child . She gets up with me when I am not well and is always up for a cuddle and doesn't judge me (unlike my son.)

I would definately get one, and if you holiday in this country, then you can find suitable accommodation which takes dogs too. I take mine every time, I have never left her with anyone or in a kennel, I just wouldn't. We used to when we had our dog when I was married, we left her with his parents but my darling Maggie hasn't been used to being left with anyone and so now, at nearly 7 years old, I would never leave her.

judthepud2, your little girl is exactly like our little girl! We lost our old show cocker in 2014, and at the time we both swore that we would not have another, BUT, 14 months later quite a bit against my better judgment, as I felt we were too old, I was persuaded to just have a look at a baby girl who as looking for a new home, and the rest is history!! Yes she is a tie, yes she makes a mess, yes she costs a fair amount of money, but in return she has given us so much joy and unconditional love, she is the reason for getting up in the morning, reason for going for a constitutional rain or shine, she makes us laugh when we feel down and has generally brightened our lives. However like another poster we have got the assurance of our family that they would look after Cassie should anything happen to us. I think this is wise as we are both in our 70's and you never know!!

A dog is the best thing about retirement. You're at home a lot so can have one whereas you can't if working full-time.
A dog gets you out every day, whatever the weather and keeps you company. It costs less than most hobbies and you'll make lots of new dog-walking friends.
Take great care choosing a suitable dog if you have young grandchildren.

The Cinnamon Trust is always looking for volunteers in all areas. They help folks over 60 or people terminally ill to keep their pets with support. They are always looking for short term and permanent foster placements for dogs and cats as well as dog walkers. This is helping the dogs and gives people peace of mind when they can't look after their pets any more for what ever reason.

If you decide on a rescue dog you will only get one if you never leave it for more than 4 hours. I do think this is a bit harsh of the RSPCA but I can't understand why people who go to work all day have dogs. Our dogs come to work with us, and are never left on their own for more than 4 hours though this means that we can't go out shopping and have lunch out - but they are worth it.

The best place to look for a breeder is the Kennel Club's web site . All the breeders there are checked out. You don't have to show the dogs.

Beware the Cocker Spaniel. Mine is devious, manipulative, trashes the house and garden, refuses to interact with other dogs and has to know where I am at all times. Obviously, after nearly 14 years of this abuse, I adore her.

Many dog re-homing charities are often looking for people to visit and walk some of the long-term guests also you can foster a dog so that you still have all the back up of the charity and the dog is still technically theirs. A friend of mine does this regularly for one of the retired greyhound charities.

oldgoat definitely see the puppy with its mother and even its father if possible. Ideally the puppies will be socialised with humans and not kept in kennels. I'm not sure about cockapoos but we got our Cairn from a Kennel Club listed breeder.

Look at the mother and ask questions like how old is she, how many litters has she had. You can tell from the look of the mother how well she is being cared for. When we arrived to view the puppies, Mum was sunning herself on the back door step and puppies were in the house and prevented from getting to her by a baby gate in order to give her a break. She was clean, plump and looked well cared for even though she had 6 or 8 puppies. I also research the potential genetic problems and make sure the puppy has a clean bill of health from the vet. For example, Cairns have genetic tendency to have problems with liver shunts - whatever that is! - so I ensured that he had been tested for this problem and given a clean bill of health. Research your chosen breed and ask loads of questions.

With regard to rescue dogs. My opinion is that to a large extent this is something that someone with a good level of experience should take on, and always be prepared for behavioural issues. So many of these dogs have been neglected either physically or emotionally or socially and it is extremely hard work getting them up to scratch. Of course you may strike lucky and have no problems whatsoever - much more likely with a young pup.

My sister is retiring soon and says she would love a puppy as it would keep her interested in walking and stop her from feeling lonely. She's been looking into all sorts of information relating to buying a puppy but can't find any terrier breeders in Scotland. Can anyone help her identify a reputable Norwich terrier breeder somewhere close to home in Fife, Scotland.

Contact the Kennel Club, they keep a register of all approved breeders of all breeds. Never buy without seeing mum and if possible dad.